Charles and Stop Rivers to Devilsfoot Island

This morning's spin of the "where the weather suits my clothes" dial resulted in the arrow directing me to the southeast, and I followed it to the Charles River in Medfield.  After launching at Old Bridge Street, I headed upriver paddling a section of the Charles I'd yet to experience.  The guidebook I used was The Charles River: Exploring Nature and History on Foot and by Canoe by Ron McAdow and it served me well.  Near the confluence of the Charles and Stop Rivers, I saw a creature swimming across the river.  After first thinking it was a musquash, I soon realized it was Aqua-Squirrel...

when he made no attempt to dive.

At the actual confluence, some carp were doing a good bit of spashing in the shallows.

It was just about noontime when I reached Devilsfoot Island near the point where Nantasket Brook enters the Stop River...

I had the small rugged island to myself and enjoyed lunch near the ruins of this old hearth...

After re-launching, I headed further up the Stop 'til reaching the Noon Hill Road bridge.  Water levels were at what seemed to be an ideal height for passage through the portals...

Between Devilsfoot Island and Noon Hill Road this Boston Whaler was seen at dock...

On this very narrow river it must get interesting when this boat encounters canoes heading in the opposite direction.

The skies were being patrolled by numerous swallows, red-winged blackbirds, and this large hawk?...

Looks like there is a chunk missing from his wing.

Canada geese were busy tending their new family members...

Got back to Old Bridge Street just before the rains started and snapped a photo of today's haul...

There were 31 recyclable containers (14 redeemable) and 10 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as a flood-lightbulb, a frisbee, and mono-filament fishing line.  YTD = 2452

Most of the trash was found immediately downstream of bridges.  Other than that, these waters were mostly trash free.